Justice News

Memphis, TN – Victoria Wallace, a/k/a “Prune the Goon,” 20, of Memphis, TN, was sentenced Friday to 216 months in federal prison for her role in a child sex trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III.

At the sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Jon Phipps McCalla heard testimony that Wallace was a high-ranking member of the Piru Street gang who used force and threats of force to control her victims. One of her juvenile victims testified that she saw Wallace drag a woman by her hair while beating her. That juvenile also identified threatening text messages that Wallace sent her during the investigation of the case.

The juvenile explained that Wallace drove her and three other minors to New Orleans for the purpose of having them prostitute. Wallace also put minors to work in prostitution in Memphis, according to the juvenile. The juvenile testified that Wallace kept the money her victims made and threatened them if they refused to work.

Wallace pled guilty on January 2, 2013, to a child sex trafficking conspiracy charge. There is no possibility of parole in the federal system.

“Wallace’s sentence of 18 years in federal prison should send an unequivocal message: if you sexually exploit a child for profit, you will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Stanton. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will remain relentless in doing whatever it takes to protect our most vulnerable citizens – our children – from those who engage in sex trafficking.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation working in conjunction with the Memphis Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti and Trial Attorney Keith Becker from the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources."